U.S.
Department of the Interior
Bureau
of Land Management
News Release
For Immediate Release: January 16, 2007 CA-CDD-07-13
Contact: Stephen Razo 951-697-5217, E-mail:
srazo@ca.blm.gov
Decision
Record Signed for Wild Burro Removal
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
has signed a Decision Record to remove an estimated 100-150 burros from public
lands administered by BLM in the former Clark Mountain Herd Area just north of
Interstate 15 in San Bernardino County.
In an amendment to the California
Desert Plan covering the Northern and Eastern Mojave Desert approved in 2002,
BLM eliminated the Clark Mountain Herd Management Area to provide for the
recovery of the threatened desert tortoise within the designated Ivanpah Desert
Wildlife Management Area.
During the BLM’s management planning process for the
Northern and Eastern Mojave Desert, the decision to remove the herd at Clark
Mountain was made based on recommendations of the Desert Tortoise Recovery
Plan. Much of the remaining herd area
for the burros now overlaps with critical habitat for the desert tortoise and
their coexistence is detrimental to the recovery of the tortoise. This plan decision was made with full public
involvement.
This roundup and removal of the burros
for adoption will implement that planning decision, made after extensive public
involvement over a seven-year period of development. An environmental assessment on the removal plan was issued on
November 22, 2006, and all public comments received have been fully considered.
The National Park Service (NPS) has agreed to cooperate with
the capture and allow removal of animals that have trespassed onto NPS managed
lands on the Mojave National Preserve. The
NPS General Management Plan for the area does not provide for burros in the
Preserve. The NPS is also providing use
of corrals for temporary holdings facilities.
The initial capture period could
begin as early as January 22 and could continue into spring. Gathering methods will include helicopter
assisted trapping, roping and water/bait trapping. The helicopter will be used
to locate and herd the targeted animals to the capture site and assist
wranglers in capturing the animals. No helicopter landings will occur in BLM or
NPS designated wilderness or wilderness study areas.
This decision is issued full force
and effect in accordance with Title 43 Code of Federal Regulations 4770.3 (c)
that allows for the immediate removal of excess burros when necessary. Additional information is available in the
Decision Record and the Environmental Assessment posted on the web at: www.blm.gov/ca/needles/ or from BLM’s
Needles Field Office at (760) 326-7000.
-BLM-
California Desert District
Office – 22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, Ca - (909)
697-5200
California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos,
Moreno Valley, CA 92553